12 Days of Cookies

I love the Food Network! It is such a wealth of great recipes and entertainment! A couple of years ago Food Network started a great project called the 12 Days of Cookies. Starting in early December they send out 12 daily cookie recipes for the holiday season created by the stars of Food Network and the brilliant chefs of the Food Network Kitchens. I have gotten so many different, and tasty recipes from these emails!

If you are interested in receiving this daily sweet treat, you can sign up at foodnetwork.com.

Pear Cone

I come from a long line of Colonial Williamsburg fans. I love to combine the history and design of Williamsburg, with the classic and modern looks of today, to come up with a style all my own.

One of the places included in "Leisyl's List" in the right hand column is the Williamsburg Marketplace, a great website for shopping the many items that were birthed in the tradition of Colonial Williamsburg. My favorite section of the site (besides the jewelry ofcourse!) includes items for decorating during the holidays. One of the staple items included, the Apple Cone.

The Apple Cone has been a staple of the Christmas Tradition in my family for years. I remember as a child watching my mother put hers together from scratch, using a wooden cone, and fresh apples. The only problem with this tradition is the smell of rotten fruit that would generally hit right around December 24! I loved this idea, but I wanted something that would stick year to year, season to season, and also a little something with my personal touch.

This was a quick, simple and inexpensive project! I purchased all my items at our local craft store, and was able to make one small cone in under $20! All you need is a cone shaped piece of styrophome, silk leaves of your choice, faux fruit of your choice, toothepicks and a glue gun!

Simply stick a toothepick in your fruit, and secure to the cone. I also used hot glue just to be sure nothing moved or fell off. When you are done covering the cone in fruit, fill the open spaces in with your greens. For more information, or to order a cone of your choice, contact Leisyl!

Pumpkin Butter

There is one flavor synonymous with the fall season, pumpkin. This time of year you find it in pies, cookies, soups, even candles! There is nothing more I like this time of year than to curl up with a book in front of a fire, with a cup of hot apple cider and a warm roll with this delicious Pumpkin Butter Spread. This year I am making some for holiday gifts. Make some yourself, experiment with decorative jars, and create a tasty gift basket full of the season’s tastes and smells!


Pumpkin Butter Spread

Ingredients:
29 ounces pure pumpkin
1 cup apple cider
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
12 whole cloves

Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat. Let the mixture come to a full boil, then turn the heat down to low. Let the mixture cook at a slow boil, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 20 minutes, until spread has thickened. Let the spread cool until warm. Store in refrigerator. Makes enough to fill 6-7 6 ounce jars.

Contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like to make an order. Thanks!

Pencil Trees

I love pencil trees. The Christmas tree I set up every year is a tall pencil tree, with white lights, red berries and those rusted star ornaments that seem to be so popular right now. I also have made some home made cinnamon ornaments that scent the room with a real homey fragrance when the tree is lit. A large grapevine star adorns the top of the tree, with white lights woven through it. I can't wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving when I can set up the tree and enjoy it!

I have found that it is very hard to find these pencil trees in a small form. I have been searching for a small one that will fit just right on top of my desk at work. One day, I finally got sick of searching, and decided I will just get a small tree at Pat Catan's and dress it up a bit, forgetting about my pencil tree. As I stood at the end of an endcap searching for just the right little tree, this idea came to me. I will make my own small pencil tree! I completed it today, in less than 40 minutes! It is very easy! So easy, I am sure you can do it!

Below are directions and what I hope may be some helpful pictures. If you have any questions, or if you interested in purchasing a tree, please feel free to contact me using the information included in this blog. Happy crafting!

Small Pencil Tree

You will need:
Small Christmas Tree
Cinnamon Sticks
Small plant pot
Small Grapevine wreath
Berries, feathers, etc to decorate
Small square of Floral Foam
Hot Glue Gun
Wire Cutters

Start by removing the wooden block at the bottom of the tree. Once this is removed, line up 3-4 cinnamon sticks, roughly the same size, and one by one glue them onto the wire stem of the tree. Let the glue harden good before you begin to spread apart the branches. Using both the floral foam, and hot glue, place the tree "trunk" into the pot and secure. Use left over cinnamon sticks and berries to cover the foam and the base of the tree. You will want to use the glue gun to help hold these items down. Once all the glue has hardened, you can begin to decorate. Take the small grapevine wreath, and using the wire cutters, take off the piece of vine holding the wreath together. Gently unwravel the wreath, then wrap the vine around the tree as garland. Use berries, ornaments, feathers, beads, etc to decorate.